Switch for electrically illuminated scoreboards



Feb. 2, 1932. E. D. TILLSON 1,343,307

SWITCH FOR ELECTRICALLY ILLUMINATED SCOREBOARDS Filed Feb 19. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 F; In

J70e7d0r 71/41/1865.

Feb. 2, 1932. TlLLSON 1,843,307

SWITCH FOR ELECTRICALLY ILLUMINATED SCOREBOARDS Filed Feb. 19, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Iwenivr I 072/, dflq ji izfy.

Feb. 2,1932. -E. D. TILLSON 1,843,307

SWITCH FOR ELECTRICALLY ILLUMINATEDSCOREBOARDS Filed Feb. 19. 192'! 4 Sheets-Sheet s h I] ll Feb. 2, 1932. E. D. TlLLSON SWITCH FOR ELECTRICALLY ILLUHINATED SCOREBOARD-'5 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb 19, 1927 A V 1 I.

Patented Feb. 2, 1932,

' UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE nnwnr 1). muscle, or Evms'ron, ILLINOIS, ASSIGHOB. r manna nnnc'rarc .oournmr, me, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION or mzw YORK SWITCH FOB ELECTBICALLY ILLUKINATED 8663mm Application filed February 19, 1927. Serial No. 188,467.

4 This invention relates to a novel and improved switch for an electrically illuminated scoreboard and consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The object of the invention is to produce a switch for an electrically illuminated scoreboard wherein the score or other data is brought out by means of one or more banks of lamps wherein the lamps in said banks are selectively connected so as to he illuminated by means of the switch, and to provide a switch of the kind, which is effective in operation, which is safe against fire hazard and which is of simple and economical construction.

The advantages of the improved switch will appear to those familiar with the art as I proceed with my specification.

In the drawings w Figure 1 is a view representing in front 7 elevation my scoreboard with the improved operating switches and electrical conductors associated therewith indicated diagrammatically. V

Figure 2 is a view representing a front elevation of one of the switch members associated with the score board.

Figures 3 and 4 are views each representing a vertical section through Figure 2 in a plane indicated by the line 33 thereof,-- Figure 3 showing the movable member of the switch device in closed position and Figure 4: showing the same in open position.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view shown partially in section, illustrating the construction and mounting of the cooperating contacts of the switch member.

Figure 6 is a perspective view illustrating the switch member and showing diagrammatically its connection to the'part of the scoring device with which it is associated.

Figure 7 is a view representing on an enlarged scale a central axial section through .one ofthe reflectors for the lamps used on I the socket banks included in. the score board.

Figure 8 is a front view of the same.

The score board illustrated hereinis one adapted for showing the score of a football game. But it will be manifest that the invention is not limited to ascore board for. that purpose but that it is applicable for embodiment in a board for scoring any other game.

Referring now to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings :10 indicates the score board as a. whole. The board may be made of any suitable material, wood or metal as may be desired, and is of suliicient size to bear numerals, letters and other characters of dimensions adapted to be clearly visible from any part of the field on which the game to be scoredis layed.

The words, numerals and other e aracters to appear on theboard will, of course, depend upon the game to be scored. In the present case the board bears on its face at the right side the word Downs indicated at 11 and the words Yds; to go indicated at 12. To These words as herein shown are painted on the board. At the left of the board are provided spaces, one above and. one below, preferably on the levels respectively of the two sets of words previously mentioned, on which appear the names of the rival teams indicated respectively at 13 and 14. These spaces will be occupied by removable or other placards or boards containin said names. As for example in this case, irmy, the name of one team and Navy, that of the other are shown in said spaces.

On the board are provided a pluarality of socket banks for. indicating by electrical illumination the points and other changeable features of the game as made by the respective rival teams or players,as in this case, th number of points gained, the number of downs and the number of yards to go. There is a socket bank for each digit of the number to indicate the points and other features, Thus associated with eachof the names of the rival teams (Army"'" and Navy) .are

tionof the unit digit. Opposite the expres- 10o sion Yds.'to go are placed two socket banks 18, as two digits may be required to indicate this featureas the game progresms. Each socket bank is of familiar well known construction, and as shown diagrammatically in Figure 6 at 19, contains a pluralit of lamp sockets and lamps arranged pre erably in horizontal and vertical rows. Any number 'of sockets and lamps may be provided in each bank, this depending upon the nicety of formation of numerals or other characters which it is desired to depict, it being apparent that the smaller the number of vertical and horizontal rows of lamps, the more rough and crude in outline will be the numerals that may be outlined by the lamps. By way of illustration, the socket bank 19 is shown as provided with twenty-four sockets and lamps 20, arranged in four vertical rows of six lamps each. In that figure, the lamps 2O shown as hatched or shaded are the only lamps in the bank which are illuminated and these lamps crudely outline the numeral 7.

With each socket bank is associated a switchboard 21 shown diagrammatically in Figure 1 and more in detail on an enlarged scale in other figures. All the lamp. sockets of each bank are connected on one'side to ground (not shown). On the other side each of the lamp sockets is connected by a wire 22 to an associated'fixed contact 23,-preferably of the blade socket type. There will thus be as many fixed contacts 23 as there are sockets and lamps in the bank,in this case twentyfour. Said contacts 23 are mounted in a line or row in the switchboard 21.

A movable, universal contact member 24, carrying a plurality of selective contact units 24, one or more for each fixed contact 23, is mounted on the board 21 in operative relationto the row of fixed contacts 23 so that any set of the contact unit 24, as selected, may be brought into contact with the associated fixed contacts 23. As shown, this universal contact member is carried by a frame 25 hinged to the switchboard 21 in such manner as to bring about the relative movement required. i

The frame 25 is of inverted U-shape and has the legs 25 of the U fixed to the ends of a shaft 26, which is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings 27 attachedto the switchboard 21, with the rotative axis of the shaft 26 parallel to the line of fixed contacts 23. The universal contact member 24 consists of a shaft 27 extending parallel to the shaft 26 and rotatively mounted in bearings 28 attached to the legs 25! of the U-shaped frame 25, and of a plurality of laterally spaced sheet metal spiders 29 (corresponding in number to the number of fixed contacts 23) fixed on the shaft 27 and having arcuately spaced radial teeth which constitute the se lective contact units 24. Said spiders 29 are so arranged on the shaft 27 that when the frame 25 is swung on its bearings, the spiders will move in the vertical planes of the several fixed contacts 23 with which they are associated.

The metal spiders 29 are preferably, when first made, all identical and contain the same number of radial teeth. They'may thus be economically manufactured by a stem ing process in large numbers at small cost. hey are initially provided with as many teeth as there are digits (or other characters) to be displayed onthe socket bank with which the Y are associated,-in this case ten. The teet not requiredmay be then cut olfof the several spiders included in the switch member for the particular socket bank to be associated with it.

For each digit (or character) to be outlined on the socket bank, (in this case for each of ten digits) there is a tooth on the several spiders associated with those of the fixed contacts 23 connected to the lamps required to outline that digit; and the said associated teeth of said several spiders are all in line.

Thus, after the shaft 27 has been rotated on its axis to bring said line of teeth opposite or over against the line of fixed contacts 23, a swinging movement of the frame 25 on its axis provided by the shaft 26 will cause said teeth to engage the fixed contacts associated with said lamps, thus closing the circuits including said lamps.

Each spider manifestly will have only the teeth required, one or more, dependin upon the number of digits (or characters) with the illumination of which it is associated. The other teeth (of the spider of common pattern) will be missing and in the case of the economical structure hereinabove described, may be readily cut off. When properly constructed the-movable member comprising the shaft 27 and the plurality of spiders 29 will present a. plurality of arcuately spaced lines of teeth 24, with each line containing a plurality of teeth, which are adapted to engage associated members of the row of fixed contacts'23 so as to bring into the circuit, when the contactsare made, the selected digit (or character) which is intended to be depicted on the socket bank.

The several spiders 29 are held in suitable spaced relation on the shaft 27 bym'eans of spacing sleeves 30 and are retained thereon by nuts 31 upon the ends of the shaft, which ends" are threaded as indicated at 32 (see Figure 5) for the urpose; Beyond the threaded parts' of the s aft, said shaft is reduced for en gement in the bearings 28 and one of said re uced parts 33 is extended beyond the proximate leg 25 of the U frame 20 where it has fixed to it a ratchet wheel 34 and beyond that a hand wheel 35. The ratchet wheel 34 is ada ted for engagement with a spring pawl 36 ed to the proximate leg 25' of the U frame 25. The ratchet wheel 34 has as many teeth as there are teeth'on the spiders 29 (ten in this case) and bears on one face a scale t numerals or characters (in this case the numerals 0, 1-9) corresponding to the numerals or'characters to be outlined by the lamps on the. socket bank. A pointer 37 (see Figure 2) is fixed as shown to the bearing 28 adjacent the ratchet wheel 34 and arranged so as to coact with the scale of numerals or characters on the ratchet wheel 34 to indicate the proper position of said ratchet wheel and of the selective contacts 24 so as to bring the contacts associated with the number or character indicated on the ratchet wheel into proper position to put in circuit the lamps on the socket bank outlining that number or character, when the U frame 25 is shifted towards'the line of fixed contacts 23.

An insulated hand grip 38 is fixed to the frame 25 in any convenient manner, as the whole movable switch member is live, and the shaft 27 is connected through the said frame to a binding post 39 on one of its bearings 27, which binding post is connected to the electric supply circuit. In the case of a large number of lamps in the socket bani: and of the like number of spiders 29 carried by the shaft 27, requiring a comparatively long shaft 27, it is preferable to brace the frame 25 and its hearing connection with the shaft '29, by intermediate bars 25.

Manifestly to operate the switch, it is simply necessary to rotate the ratchet wheel 34 by means of the hand wheel 35, to bring the numeral which it is desired to depict on the socket bank opposite the pointer 37. This will bring into alignment over against the line of fixed contacts 23 the several movable contact members 24 associated with the lamp sockets of the lamps to outline that number. A swinging movement of the frame 25 will thereupon bring said contact members 24 into engagement with the fixed contacts 23 and thus put into circuit the lamps required spiders associated with this set of lamps have teeth in line which will make contact with any of the fixed contact members. Thus the movement described of the frame 25 will at the lamps designed to illuminate the out ine of the numeral 7 and no others into circuit with the source of electric current.

With switch devices 21 of the kind above described associated with each of the socket banks, it is manifest that any number may be outlined by the illumination of lamps on said banks and where the numbers to be shown are more than to be expressed by'the numeral 9, that is to say in a single digits place, two of the switch devices 21 will have to be manipulated in order to illuminate numerals on two of the socket banks, as for example in Figure l, on the socket banks 15 are shown the nu merals 21, which showin is brought about by the manipulation of both switch members 21 associated with said banks. Likewise, in the case of the socket bank 16. In the case of the socket bank 17 showing the number of downs only one switch member 21 is operated, whereas in the case of the socket banks 18, the switch members of each of said socket banks have to be manipulated in order to show the number 10.

in the present instance, in addition to the switches and banks for indicating the numerals as hereinbefore described, there is a switch 40 associated with two sets oi lamos 41, 42 arranged to outline a football with the ard Ball painted or otherwise indicated above said two outlines. By moving this switch from one position to the other the lamps indicated at 41 or the lamps indicated at 42 will be illuminated thus indicating whether the ball is in the hands of the one team, namely the Army in this case, in line with which is shown the ball 41, or in the hands of the other team, the Navy in this case, which is in line with the ball indicated at 42.

T he heard shown herein in addition has another feature of value in scoring a game on a large field where the visibility is apt to be low. This consists of a device for indicating the minutes to go or to play. At the top of the board is provided a large circular opening 43, about the margin of which is provided a scale ll dividing the circular disc into periods of time. Associated with said scale is a hand or pointer 45 pivoted on a shaft 46 mounted in the circular openings 43 with its and marking the scale at the margin of said opening. A belt 4?, suitable pulleys and a crank arm l8 back of the score board enables an operator to move the hand or pointer 45 to the position on the scale required to indicate the time interval it is necessary to signal to those in the field.

The advantage of this construction and arrangement is that the hand or pointer 45, which is dark and opaque, is caused to travel over and against the sky as a background. It has been found that such background, even on a dark day, will present a much greater contrast for the pointer than any painted socket bank. The housing 54 includes a face plate 55 which has a hole or opening 56 for each lamp. A lens 57 closes the opening 56. The lens 57 is plano-convex in order to refraet the divergent rays from the lamp 52 into parallelism and is preferably a fresnel lens, as shown in the drawings. It is adapted. to project a strong beam of light to great distances so that the lamp has high visibility even on a bright day.

The reflector 53 is a conical reflector instead of the usual parabolic reflector. The advantage of the conical reflector is that rays. from the image, indicated at 52", appearing as coming from a point outside of the reflector and offset at a distance from the position of the lamp itself rather than rays from the focal point 52* of the lamp, are projected through the lens in a direction ata comparatively sharp angle to'the plane of the lens 57.

As a result of the aforesaid construction, the numerals or other characters outlined by the lamps on the socket banks are brilliantly visible even on the brightest days from all points of the field, whether directly in front of and remote from the score board or at one side of and near the score board.

' In order to protect the lens from any reflection of the sun and the resulting confusion of reflected sunlight with the li ht from the lamps, a visor 58 is provided or each lens. Said visor is preferably made of metal and is of such shape, size and position that when located above the lens, it will shield the lens from the sunlight rays in the position which the score board is designed to occupy.

While in describing and illustrating the invention I have referred to and shown many tion and arrangement of parts, it is to be understood that the invention is in no way K limited thereto except as may be pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: 7

1. A switch, comprising relatively movable switch members disposed in parallel relation, one switch member including a plurality of knife blade contacts and the other being a universal contact member including a plurality of selective contact units associated in sets, and each adapted to engage with one of said blade contacts, means for bringing any one of said sets of selective contact units into position for correlation to the said blade contacts, a scale indicating the several positions of correlation, and means for relatively moving said two switch members at right angles to their parallel relation to" close the circuits between them.

2. A switch, comprising a member including a line of contacts each connected to one of a. plurality of circuits, a universal member including a plurality of selective contact units one for each first named contact, the two members being relatively movable at a right angle to said line of contacts, said selective member including a shaft, a plurality of spiders, each having one or more areuately spaced contact teeth, the contact teeth of one or more of said spiders being fixed in aligned sets areuately spaced about said shaft, and means for relatively moving said switch members.

3. A switch, comprising a member including a line of contacts each connected to one ofa plurality of circuits, auniversal member including a. plurality of selective contact units one for each of said first named contacts,

the two members being relatively movable in an arcuate path at a right angle to said line of contacts, said universal member including ashaft, a plurality of spiders each having one or more areuately spaced contact teeth, with the contact teeth of one or more of said s iders fixed in aligned sets areuately spaced a out said shaft, a scale associated with said shaft and indicating positions to which said shaft has to be rotated in order to bring the several aligned sets of contact teeth to o erative position, means for rotating said s aft,

V and means for relatively moving said switch mcm ber.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I afiix my signature this 9th day of February, A. D. 1927. EDWIN D. TILLSON.

details of mechanical and electrical construc- 

